Last Thursday morning, Yavneh parents, Rabbi Davidi and Natalie Jonas, joined by Laurie Meltzer Bandremer, associate director, Northeast Region AFMDA, shared the origins of Magen David Adom, Israel’s national ambulance, blood-services and disaster-relief organization, serving as emergency medical first-responders for the state’s 8.8 million people. MDA is the only organization mandated by the Israeli government to serve in this role.

Bandremer shared a video which engaged students and detailed MDA’s work in Israel. Not only are there over 1,100 ambulances, two helicopters and one boat available for assistance, Israeli tech designers have created an app for easier access, allowing individuals to share and show their distress by turning the screen accordingly.

Jonas detailed her own involvement, and urged students and faculty to help. During Cheshvan, Yavneh Academy will be collecting tzedaka for MDA, with a tzedeka box on each teacher’s desk to help with the collection. Yasher koach to the Jonases for inspiring this mitzvah.

An MDA ambulance was brought to Yavneh’s campus and, in connection with Safety Week, students explored the ambulance which will be shipped to Israel in the next few weeks.